SoCal Red Cross Issues Emergency Call For Blood and Platelet Donations

ALL>> For the first time in eight years, the American Red Cross in Southern California has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply. Blood donations through the Red Cross in Southern California and across the country have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations nationwide than what is needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. The Red Cross strives to keep a five-day blood supply available at all times to meet the needs of patients every day and be prepared for emergencies that would require significant volumes of donated blood products. Currently, however, the Red Cross has less than a five-day supply on hand. “Right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, which is why we are making this emergency request for donations,” said Dr. Ross Herron, chief medical officer of the Red Cross West Blood Services Division, in a press release, which includes the Southern California Blood Services Region. “Donations are urgently needed now to meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and weeks. If you’ve thought about giving blood and helping to save lives, now is the time to do it. It’s the blood donations on the shelves that help save lives when an emergency occurs.” To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites to allow for more donors to make an appointment to give. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to avoid longer wait times. Donors with all blood types are needed. Those unable to give can still help by encouraging others to give through a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/sleevesup, giving of their time through volunteerism or making a financial donation to support Red Cross humanitarian work across the country and around the world. Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant procedures, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide, including more than 120 healthcare facilities in Southern California. Upcoming blood donation opportunities in San Bernardino include July 24 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, located at 1640 Western Ave., from 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and July 25 at the American Red Cross Inland Empire Chapter, located at 202 W Rialto Ave, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.